How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from the Japanese to English translated subtitles of Seven Samurai.
Quote #7
KAMBEI: As a matter of fact, I'm preparing for a tough war. It will bring us neither money nor fame. Want to join?
SHICHIROJI: Yes!
KAMBEI: Maybe we die this time.
Death, and more importantly an honorable death, was a big thing for a samurai. These two had failed in that duty, and they see the farmers' dilemma as a chance to make amends. In that sense, they fail at their duty a second time, which gives them a real sense of tragedy in the last scene.
Quote #8
GOROBEI: They can't be allowed to rejoin the others.
KAMBEI: Right.
KYUZO: I'll get them. The hills are my responsibility.
Part of the allure of the samurai's position is that duty is defined for them so clearly. They don't need to question or wonder about other options. Kyuzo was assigned to watch the hills, so he's gotta go get the bandits there. End of discussion.
Quote #9
KAMBEI: There are only three houses beyond the bridge and there are twenty in the village. We cannot endanger twenty because of three. And if the village is destroyed, those three will not be safe anyway.
Duty here means figuring out what you can protect and what you can't. The sacrifice of those three homes means that the village as a whole will survive. Not everyone takes this lesson to heart, which might seem like a dereliction in their duty (more on that in a bit).